By Jones of Dallas                                      H.R. No. 51
       74R2831 SAJ-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  Officer Earnest Jenkins, Jr., for his outstanding contributions to
    1-3  the field of drug-abuse education and for his exceptional
    1-4  commitment to the youth of our state; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, A former gang member, Officer Jenkins overcame what
    1-6  many would consider tremendous obstacles to become a leader in the
    1-7  fight against drug abuse and gang violence; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, At the age of 16, with the support of his family and
    1-9  mentors, he mustered the courage and determination to end his
   1-10  association with gangs and applied himself instead to academics and
   1-11  athletics; he excelled in both areas, and by the time he graduated
   1-12  from Cedar Hill High School he had made the all-district team in
   1-13  football and had earned honors as a regional, state, and national
   1-14  qualifier in power lifting; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Officer Jenkins furthered his studies at Tuskegee
   1-16  University in Alabama until the tragic death of a friend led him to
   1-17  pursue his calling as a law enforcement officer; he began his
   1-18  distinguished career with the Cedar Hill Police Department in 1992
   1-19  and worked for almost a year as a reserve officer before becoming a
   1-20  full-time member of the force; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Since assuming the responsibilities of a Drug Abuse
   1-22  Resistance Education (DARE) officer at the Sixth Grade Center in
   1-23  1994, he has become a positive role model for numerous youths in
   1-24  his community and has used his considerable influence and boundless
    2-1  compassion to teach youngsters to resist the peer pressure that
    2-2  often leads to involvement with gangs and drugs; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Officer Jenkins also has sought to impress on his
    2-4  young charges the value of a good education and has encouraged them
    2-5  to apply themselves to their studies; and
    2-6        WHEREAS,  In addition to his outstanding work in the area of
    2-7  drug-abuse education, Officer Jenkins is an expert in matters of
    2-8  family violence and child abuse and is a valued member of the
    2-9  department's tactical team; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, During his tenure with the Cedar Hill Police
   2-11  Department, Officer Jenkins has served as an inspiration to his
   2-12  colleagues and as a positive role model to the youth of his
   2-13  community; the citizens of Cedar Hill have benefitted tremendously
   2-14  from his distinguished service on the force and he is truly worthy
   2-15  of special legislative recognition for his contributions to his
   2-16  community; now, therefore, be it
   2-17        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-18  Legislature hereby commend Officer Earnest Jenkins, Jr., on his
   2-19  outstanding contributions in the field of drug-abuse education and
   2-20  for his exceptional commitment to the youth of our state; and, be
   2-21  it further
   2-22        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-23  prepared for Officer Jenkins as an expression of high regard by the
   2-24  Texas House of Representatives.